by john manzi, for NAADA
While several members of the
North American Amateur Drivers Association were at Saratoga Raceway competing
against the group of visiting Hungarians on April 19 seven members of NAADA
convened at Yonkers Raceway for the sixth leg of their current spring trotting
series.
And for the second time in
three weeks Paul Minore and his old warhorse Wygant Prince emerged victorious
winning this time in 2:00.3.
After starting from the pole
position Minore was content to allow Monica Banca and Brandos Muscle Man to
take command on the first turn and then play follow the leader as Ms Banca and
her trotter passed the first stanza in a soft 29.3. Noticing that the pace was
getting even slower Joe Faraldo moved Tough Get Going to the outside to hurry
the leader as Minore sat still in the catbirds seat.
With Minore content where he
was Faraldo and his trotter kept marching forward battling with Brandos Muscle
Man finally over taking him coming off the final turn while preparing for a
stiff challenge from Wygant Prince who had enjoyed cover all the way.
“I finally cleared Monica's
trotter as we headed for home but Wygant Prince was fresh and we battled all
the way to the wire,” Faraldo recalled. “ I thought we were going to win it but
my horse tired a bit in the final strides after being out a long way and Paul's
horse was fresh and stronger having never moved until the end of the mile. When
the (finish line) camera clicked I was a head short and Paul got all the
money.”
Brandos Muscle Man hung on
for a third place finish.
Wygant Prince is owned by
Minore and trained by Taylor Gower.
Next up in the NAADA
trotting series is the seventh leg at Monticello Raceway on Thursday, April 26.
Now with their series
against the Hungarians completed NAADA is preparing for the visiting Spaniards-
in late May and they will be the second of four European amateur organizations
which will be hosted by the USA.
